Sayreville kids vie for salt water taffy as state candy

It has no real salt water, but salt water taffy is beloved by generations New Jerseyans just the same. Now students from Sayreville want to make treats official state candy.

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Brodie Gallagher rehearsed his part Wednesday as Mr. Bradley, an 1880’s Atlantic City candy store owner, for his visit to Trenton today. He and fellow students of Samsel Upper Elementary school will lobby before the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee in an effort to have salt water taffy named the official state candy.
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SAYREVILLE – Six fifth-graders at Samsel Upper Elementary School are hoping for a sweet response to their effort to name salt water taffy as the New Jersey state candy.

The group will join Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-19th District, before the Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee to lobby for the passage of A1715, a bill designating the colorful and chewy confection as the official state treat.

The bill was introduced by Wisniewski at the students’ request.

“I think salt water taffy should be our state candy because we did a lot of research last year and found salt water taffy is a big part of the Jersey Shore,” student Brodie Gallagher said. “Other kids have done this and have been successful. I’m hoping we’re successful, too.”

Brodie will don a top hat, handlebar mustache, suspenders and an apron and will play the role of a young candy merchant, Mr. Bradley, who as folklore has it, had a stand on the boardwalk in Atlantic City in 1880 when a storm flooded his store and soaked his candy in salt water.

When a young girl came in the next day to buy some taffy, he jokingly asked her if she would like some “salt water” taffy. The rest is history.

Of course, while the candy’s list of ingredients includes both salt and water, salt water taffies are not made with seawater.

Amber Bender said she supports the bill because “salt water taffy brings back good memories for people about the Jersey Shore.”

Also appearing before the committee will be Tyler Graham, Lauren Alcasid, Stephen Farley and Michelle Lee.

The idea was conceived last year when the students were in the fourth grade and learning about state history and its government. They learned how a bill becomes a law and about the state symbols. The students soon realized that while New Jersey has a state flower, tree and animal there was no state candy.

With help from teachers Dana DeBell, Lisa Eicher, Laura Hornlein, Jodi Schreier, Josephine Tutela and media specialist Mary Desmond, they decided to put what they were learning on paper to task.

“We felt it would be wonderful to give the students a real-life experience,” Desmond said. “When Hurricane Sandy happened and it devastated parts of Sayreville, as well as parts of the Jersey Shore, it seemed so obvious that our state candy should be salt water taffy and it just caught on. It’s been a wonderful learning experience. I didn’t predict it would get this far, but I was always hopeful.”

When Wisniewski was asked to sponsor their bill, he visited the school to discuss the legislative process.

“The story of salt water taffy’s creation is a part of New Jersey lore,” Wisniewski said. “I commend the Samsel Upper Elementary School students for the creative way they have taken their civics lesson and made it real with their suggestion to introduce this bill.”

Principal Stacey Maher said the project is an excellent learning tool for students.

“We believe that providing a hands-on experience enhances student learning and makes it more meaningful to them,” Maher said. “Our hope is that through this endeavor the students realize that they are important and contributing members of our society. With the guidance and support of their teachers, students were able to work towards a common goal and will hopefully make a mark in our state’s history.”

The students will bring samples of salt water taffy, donated by John Gato, owner of Von Holten Candies located on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights.